InHealth Community Diagnostic Centre - Golders Green

Updated 1 April 2019

This report relates to MRI services provided by InHealth Diagnostic Centre Golders Green. The service primarily serves the communities of the London Borough of Barnet. However, it also accepts patient referrals from outside this area.

InHealth Diagnostic Centre Golders Green was last inspected on 10 January 2014 using the CQC previous methodology. We did not rate the service using this methodology. However, the service was found to have met the CQC essential standards.

InHealth was established over 25 years ago. The Golders Green Diagnostic Centre provides MRI examinations to private patients, and to patients referred from the NHS through Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) contracts directly with InHealth. The service works collaboratively with Barnet CCG and local GP services. The centre provides services for young people and adults over the age of 16 years old.

InHealth Diagnostic Centre Golders Green registered with the CQC on 8 February 2013.

The service has a registered manager who has been in post since 3 July 2017.

We carried out an unannounced inspection of the service on 7 February 2019.

Updated 1 April 2019

InHealth Diagnostic Centre Golders Green is operated by InHealth Limited. The service provides magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic scans for low risk adults and young people over the age of 16 years.

We inspected MRI diagnostic facilities.

We inspected this service using our comprehensive inspection methodology. We carried out the unannounced inspection on 7 February 2019.

To get to the heart of patients’ experiences of care and treatment, we ask the same five questions of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive to people's needs, and well-led. Where we have a legal duty to do so we rate services’ performance against each key question as outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate.

Throughout the inspection, we took account of what people told us and how the provider understood and complied with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

The main service provided by this centre was diagnostic imaging.

Services we rate

We rated InHealth Golders Green as Good overall.

We found good practice in relation to diagnostic imaging:

• There were effective systems to keep people protected from avoidable harm.

• There were sufficient numbers of staff with the necessary skills, experience and qualifications to meet patients’ needs.

• There was a programme of mandatory training which all staff completed, and systems for checking staff competencies.

• Equipment was maintained and serviced appropriately and the environment was visibly clean.

• Records were up to date, complete and kept protected from unauthorised access.

• Incidents were reported, investigated and learning was implemented.

• The service used evidence based processes and best practice, and followed recognised protocols. Scans were timely, effective and reported promptly.

• Staff were competent and kept up to date with their professional practice.

• Staff demonstrated a kind and caring approach to patients and supported their emotional needs.

• Appointments were available during the evening if required.

• Complaints from patients were taken seriously and acted upon.

• The service had supportive and competent managers. Staff understood and were invested in the vision and values of the organisation.

• Risks were identified, assessed and mitigated. Performance was monitored and performance information was used to make improvements.

However, we also found the following issues that the service provider needs to improve:

• The local rules which ensured work was carried out in accordance with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) guidance for MRI did not have a review date.

• The disabled toilet facilities were untidy in the afternoon of inspection. Staff were in the process of introducing regular visual checks of public areas.

Following this inspection, we told the provider that that it should make other improvements, even though a regulation had not been breached, to help the service improve.

Nigel Acheson

Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals for London and South

Updated 1 April 2019

Diagnostics was the only activity the service provided.

We rated this service as good because it was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.